Verstappen: Bahrain crash caused by 150hp power boost

Red Bull ace Max Verstappen will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from fifteenth on the grid. Max’s RB14 crashed into the wall at turn 2 in the first part of qualifying Q2. Crash ending his qualifying session prematurely.

The Dutchman has blamed a sudden 150-horsepower boost from his Renault engine for triggering the Q2 crash – following the power surge he ran across the kerbs at Turn 2, the back end of his RB14 stepped out and he spun across the track – hitting the barriers on the outside of the circuit.

“It was unfortunate. I studied the data and suddenly we had a 150 horsepower increase which is a bit odd because the corner is not flat out so you are just juggling the throttle. Max said after the qualifying.

“It was like an on and off switch and suddenly is span the rear tyres up quite aggressively and I spun.

“I didn’t expect it at all. 150 horsepower when you think you are on the limit is quite a lot. He added

“It should be alright tomorrow. Up to P5 should be alright. A little bit of luck with a Safety Car would be nice.”